LOCATION MARCETTA MTEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive Pachic Haplocryolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Marcetta gravelly loam, native grass cover (colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted).
A1--0 to 10 inches; dark gray (7.5YR 4/1) gravelly loam, black (7.5YR 2/1) moist; weak fine granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine roots; many very fine interstitial pores; 30 percent pebbles; neutral; gradual boundary.
A2--10 to 17 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) gravelly loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; weak fine granular structure; soft, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine roots; many very fine interstitial pores; 30 percent pebbles; neutral; gradual boundary.
A3--17 to 25 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) very gravelly loam, dark brown with streaks of very dark brown (10YR 3/3 and 10YR 2/2) moist; weak medium and fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine roots; common fine tubular pores; 40 percent pebbles; neutral; gradual boundary. (Combined thickness of A horizons is 16 to 30 inches)
E--25 to 33 inches; light gray (10YR 7/2) very gravelly loam, dark grayish brown (7.5YR 4/2) moist; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; common fine pores; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine roots; common fine tubular pores; 50 percent gravel; neutral; gradual boundary. (5 to 15 inches thick)
E/B--33 to 48 inches; light gray (10YR 7/2) and very pale brown (10YR 7/3) very gravelly loam, dark brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; sand grains clear and unstained with few patches of clay film and clay flow; few very fine roots; common fine tubular pores; 55 percent pebbles; neutral; gradual boundary. (5 to 15 inches thick)
C--48 to 70 inches; light gray (10YR 7/2) extremely gravelly loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; massive; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine roots; 65 percent coarse fragments including angular fragments ranging from pebble to stone size; neutral.
TYPE LOCATION: Granite County, Montana; west and north of Drummond, Montana; 800 feet SW of the center of sec. 18, T. 11 N., R. 14 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Mean annual soil temperature - 43 to 46 degrees F.
Mean summer soil temperature - 55 to 59 degrees F.
Moisture control section - between 4 and 12 inches.
Mollic epipedon thickness - 16 to 30 inches.
A horizons - Hue: 10YR or 7.5YR
Value: 4 or 5 dry; 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 1, 2, or 3
Texture: loam or clay loam
Clay content: 15 to 30 percent
Rock fragments: 25 to 55 percent pebbles
Reaction: pH 6.6 to 7.3
E horizon - Hue: 10YR or 7.5YR
Value: 7 or 8 dry; 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3
Clay content: 18 to 25 percent
Rock fragments: 40 to 55 percent pebbles
Reaction: pH 6.6 to 7.3
E/B horizon - Hue: 10YR or 7.5YR
Value: 6 or 7 dry; 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 2, 3, or 4
Clay content: 18 to 25 percent
Rock fragments: 40 to 55 percent pebbles
Reaction: pH 6.6 to 7.3
C horizon - Hue: 10YR or 7.5YR
Value: 6 or 7 dry; 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3
Clay content: 20 to 27 percent
Rock fragments: 50 to 65 percent--5 to 20 percent cobbles or stones; 40 to 45 percent pebbles
Reaction: pH 6.6 to 7.8
COMPETING SERIES:
Baconcamp (OR) - is 20 to 40 inches to a lithic contact; has a xeric moisture regime.
Behanco (CO) - is 40 to 60 inches to a lithic contact; has a udic moisture regime.
Behanin (UT) - has cambic horizons; does not have an albic horizon.
Belsac (NV) - is 20 to 40 inches to a paralithic contact; has a xeric moisture regime.
Blanca (NM) - has less than 18 percent clay in the particle-size control section.
Busterback (ID) - has less than 18 percent clay in the particle-size control section; has 2C horizons with hue of 2.5Y or 5Y.
Caballo (NM) - does not have an albic horizon.
Campone (CA) - is somewhat poorly drained; does not have an albic horizon.
Croesus (NV) - is 20 to 40 inches to a lithic contact; has a xeric moisture regime.
Dressel (CO) - does not have an albic horizon; has a udic moisture regime.
Gateview (CO) - has less than 18 percent clay in the particle-size control section.
Hapgood (NV) - is 40 to 60 inches to a lithic contact; has a xeric moisture regime.
Harcany (NV) - has a mollic epipedon 30 to 70 inches thick.
Hobacker (WY) - has horizon of secondary carbonate accumulation.
Lionhead (ID) - has horizon of secondary carbonate accumulation.
Lolon (MT) - has a lithologic discontinuity at 20 to 40 inches.
Nagitsy (ID) - is 20 to 40 inches to a lithic contact; has a xeric moisture regime.
Namela (CO) - is 20 to 40 iches to a lithic contact.
Nazaton (ID) - has a cambic horizon; does not have an albic horizon; has O horizons.
Nevtah (NV) - is 20 to 40 inches to a lithic contact; has a xeric moisture regime.
Papasila (CO) - does not have an albic horizon; has a cambic horizon; has a udic moisture regime.
Parkcity (UT) - has less than 18 percent clay in the particle-size control section; has a udic moisture regime.
Poleline (UT) - is 40 to 60 inches to a lithic contact.
Povey (ID) - is 40 to more than 60 inches to a lithic contact; has a xeric moisture regime.
Prong (OR) - is 20 to 40 inches to a lithic contact.
Snag (CA) - is 20 to 40 inches to a lithic contact; has a xeric moisture regime.
Snopoc (NV) - has less than 18 percent clay in the particle-size control section; has a xeric moisture regime.
Splitbutte (ID) - is 20 to 40 inches to a lithic contact; has less than 18 percent clay in the particle-size control section.
Tonigut (UT) - is 40 to 60 inches to a paralithic and a lithic contact; has a udic moisture regime.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform - high terraces and alluvial fans in intermountain valleys.
Elevation - 4,000 to 6,000 feet.
Slope - 2 to 60 percent.
Parent material - alluvium.
Climate - long, cold winter; cool, moist springs; short summers.
Mean annual precipitation - 15 to 19 inches.
Mean annual temperature is 40 to 45 degrees F.
Frost-free period - 30 to 70 days.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Marcetta soils are used mainly for range. Potential native vegetation is mainly bluebunch wheatgrass, Idaho fescue, cheatgrass brome, sagebrush, and open stands of ponderosa pine.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Marcetta soils are moderately extensive and are widely distributed in western Montana.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Granite County (Philipsburg-Drummond Area), Montana, 1972.
REMARKS: Soil Interpretations Record: MT0568. Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: a mollic epipedon from the soil surface to 25 inches (A horizons); an albic horizon from 25 to 33 inches (E horizon); a particle-size control section from 10 to 40 inches (A2, A3, E, and part of E/B horizons). Marcetta soils have a cryic temperature regime and an ustic moisture regime.